Copilot Voice lets you have a real-time spoken conversation with Microsoft Copilot. Select the Voice icon in the message box, allow microphone access if asked, wait for Copilot's greeting and start talking. There are also two lighter voice features: dictation, which types what you say, and read aloud, which speaks Copilot's answers. Availability depends on your subscription and region.
Microsoft rolls three different things into the word voice, which is why people get confused. Here's what each one does, how to use them, and the privacy detail that differs between work and personal accounts, from Microsoft's own support pages.
The three voice features
| Feature | What it does | Available for |
|---|---|---|
| Dictation | Turns your speech into text in the prompt box | Work or school accounts |
| Read aloud | Speaks Copilot's response to you | Work or school accounts |
| Copilot Voice | A full back-and-forth spoken conversation | Work or school and personal accounts |
That's the catch most guides miss: on a personal Microsoft account, Microsoft's table lists only Copilot Voice, while dictation and read aloud are listed for work or school accounts. Voice features also need an eligible subscription, and Microsoft points to its AI credits and limits page for the detail.
How to start a Copilot Voice conversation
- Sign in at copilot.cloud.microsoft or open the Microsoft Copilot app on your computer or phone.
- Select the Voice icon in the message composer.
- Allow microphone access if your browser or device asks.
- Wait for Copilot's audio greeting, then start speaking.
- Select the Microphone icon to stop Copilot listening, and select it again to carry on.
- Select the X icon to end the session.
When the conversation ends you get a text transcript, which is handy when you've talked through a plan and want the notes. Microsoft also warns that voice conversations may have session limits and can disconnect automatically when you hit one.
How to dictate instead of typing
On a work or school account, in the chat prompt box, select Start dictation and speak naturally. Copilot transcribes in real time, and you can say punctuation such as "period" and "comma" for cleaner formatting. Select Stop dictation when you're done, and read it back before sending, because speech recognition can mishear names and jargon.
How to have answers read aloud
Ask your question as normal. In the menu under Copilot's response, select More options, then Read aloud, and use the on-screen controls to pause, resume or stop. Microsoft says read aloud uses text-to-speech on your own device. Like dictation, it's listed for work or school accounts.
Voice on your phone
Microsoft pitches mobile voice as a way to stay productive away from your desk. Grounded in your work and web data, it says voice can help you review your calendar, get meeting details and triage email while you commute, or think out loud and have Copilot organise your ideas, search for information and turn your thoughts into drafts.
On mobile you can say "Hey, Copilot" or tap the voice button in the prompt box to start. The first time, you may be asked to give Copilot access to your microphone, which you can change later in your device settings. Microsoft's tip for better accuracy is to keep background noise down, and there's a separate guide for using Copilot by voice in Apple CarPlay while you drive.
What happens to your voice data
This is the part worth knowing before you talk through anything sensitive, and it depends on your account.
| Account | Feature | What Microsoft says |
|---|---|---|
| Work or school | Dictation | Speech is sent to Microsoft only to convert it to text; audio isn't stored and dictated text isn't stored by the dictation service |
| Work or school | Copilot Voice | Your audio and Copilot's audio are stored temporarily for feedback, only accessed if you submit feedback, and deleted after 48 hours |
| Work or school | Read aloud | Runs as text-to-speech on your device; no audio is recorded or stored |
| Personal, Family, Premium or Pro | Copilot Voice | Voice data is used to provide the experience; transcripts are handled like your other Copilot history |
Microsoft also notes that background sounds may be picked up in recorded audio, so a quick voice chat in a busy office may capture more than you meant. If you want to give feedback on a voice chat, that's the moment work audio is accessed, so think about what was said first.
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Five ways to use Copilot Voice at work
- Talk through your week on Monday morning and ask Copilot to turn it into a priority list.
- Rehearse a sales call: ask Copilot to play a sceptical client and push back on your pricing.
- Dictate a rough blog outline while walking, then tidy it up in text later.
- Have long answers read aloud while you're doing admin.
- Brainstorm names or headlines out loud, then ask for the transcript.
For everything else the Copilot app does, from screen sharing to file questions, see my guide to using Copilot, and for the screen-sharing side specifically, Copilot Vision.
My verdict
Copilot Voice is best for thinking out loud: planning, rehearsing and brainstorming. Use dictation when you want text and read aloud when you want to listen. On a work account, remember audio is kept for up to 48 hours for feedback, so keep client details out of casual voice chats.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I use Copilot Voice?
Open Microsoft Copilot, select the Voice icon in the message composer, allow microphone access if asked, wait for the greeting and start speaking. Select the X icon to end the session.
Is Copilot Voice free?
Microsoft says voice availability depends on your subscription and region, and voice features require an eligible Microsoft subscription. Check its AI credits and limits page for your plan.
Does Copilot Voice save a transcript?
Yes. When a voice conversation ends, a text transcript is available, and it's handled like your other Copilot conversation history.
How long does Microsoft keep Copilot Voice recordings?
For work or school accounts, user audio and Copilot audio are stored temporarily for feedback and deleted after 48 hours. They're only accessed if you submit feedback.
Can Copilot read its answers out loud?
Yes. Under a response, select More options, then Read aloud, and use the controls to pause, resume or stop.
